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e-con Systems launches 2MP Monochrome global shutter USB camera

Posted on 7 May, 2020 by mixos

e-con Systems’ new See3CAM_20CUG, 2MP, 3.0 µm global shutter USB 3.1 Gen 1 SuperSpeed Camera with NIR sensitivity.

e-con Systems Inc., a leading embedded camera solution company, today announced the launch of See3CAM_20CUG, 2 MP Monochrome global shutter USB 3.1 Gen1 superspeed Camera. It is based on OmniVision’s OV2311 image sensor with 3 µm x 3 µm pixel with OmniPixel®3-GS technology. It has S-mount (M12) lens holder which allows customers to choose and use the lens according to their requirement. It is a Plug-and-Play camera (UVC compliant) for Windows and Linux.

See3CAM_20CUG can capture images at very high frame rate (HFR) 2MP at 60fps, VGA at 180fps and QVGA at 280fps, which helps to minimize the distracting effects while capturing fast moving objects and produce much smoother images, with greater details in a scene. The High Near-Infrared Capabilities helps to produce exceptional image quality beyond visible light region. Both high frame rate and high NIR make it suitable for accurate eye tracking applications and smartly powering driver monitoring systems.

“Our See3CAM_20CUG camera brings out the advantages of global shutter high frame-rate image capture, excellent NIR sensitivity and ease-of-use USB UVC in a single package. This 2MP See3CAM_20CUG camera module will be an ideal camera for applications such as DMS, eye tracking and other tracking applications where NIR imaging and global shutter performance are the important drivers” said Mr. Ashok Babu, President of econ Systems Inc.

Sample Application

e-con Systems provides sample Windows applications, e-CAMView, and Linux application, QtCAM that uses the standard UVC protocol to access the camera controls. The e-CAMView, a DirectShow based image viewer application from e-con Systems enables controls such as Gain, Exposure, Saturation, Brightness, Contrast, and various other controls. QtCAM – Open source Linux camera software application enables capturing and viewing video from devices supported by Linux UVC driver and also works with any V4L2 compatible device

Availability

The See3CAM_20CUG is currently available for evaluation. Customers interested in evaluating the product can order samples from e-con Systems’ online store. For more information, please visit 2MP Global Shutter Camera. Also, watch the demo video.

Customization Services

If you are interested in customizing the See3CAM_20CUG or for any additional features, please contact camerasolutions@e-consystems.com

TQ product launch of CPU modules based on NXP’s i.MX 8X ARM® Cortex®-A35

Posted on 7 May, 20207 May, 2020 by mixos

With the official launch of the i.MX8 X Arm® Cortex®-A35 CPUs from NXP on May 14, 2020, the technology company TQ is bringing two modules based on the new core architecture into the market. As an NXP Early Access Partner for the i.MX8 X, TQ has already introduced the TQMa8Xx and TQMa8XxS modules, now they are available for customers.

This product family offers three pin-compatible CPU variants with different graphics performance (multi-display) and number of cores. The CPU-integrated Cortex-M4 processor supports the required real-time functions. The NXP CPUs combine numerous functions with an attractive energy balance for a future-oriented module design.

The new TQMa8Xx and TQMa8XxS modules are cores for applications in a wide range of areas: from medical devices, HMIs, industrial controllers and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to gateways, building automation, transport and robotics.

With its size of only 55 x 44 mm, the TQMa8Xx allows users to access all interfaces directly on the module. The module is equipped with a DDR3L memory including ECC support. With the implemented ECC function, the module allows for certification for safety-relevant applications. In addition, a pin-compatible variant supports LPDDR4-SDRAM.

The second module, the TQMa8XxS, complies with both the SMARC 2.0 as well as the SMARC 2.1 standard and measures 82 x 50 mm. Both modules are equipped with eMMC flash memory up to 64 GB and optionally with QSPI NOR flash with up to 256 MB.

TQ-Embedded is a long-standing NXP Gold Partner with a lot of experience in the market and therefore has early access to the latest i.MX8 X core architectures and develops new module concepts with these. Due to the comprehensive experience with NXP products, TQ accompanies customers competently with their designs.

more information: www.tq-group.com

New TQ module based on ARM® Cortex®-A53 with i.MX8M Mini and Nano technology

Posted on 7 May, 20207 May, 2020 by mixos

The technology company TQ is expanding its i.MX8 product range with the new embedded module TQMa8MxML based on the i.MX8M Mini and Nano CPU family. It supports all nine CPU derivatives of the two families on the small LGA module and all signal pins are available in every configuration.

The i.MX8M Mini and Nano CPUs from NXP stand out within the i.MX8M family in that they are less expensive due to optimized features. TQ has decided to provide users with 100 percent of the signal pins in the form of an LGA module for the module design of the TQMa8MxML. In doing so, TQ has managed to combine the requirements of both CPUs in a common design. This allows users to choose the optimal variant for their needs and project. The module was equipped with an LPDDR4 with up to 4 GB on the i.MX8M Mini and 2 GB on the i.MX8M Nano. In addition, a QSPI NOR flash with up to 256 MB is available as an option to the included eMMC flash memory.

The i.MX8M Mini differs from the i.MX8 Nano in particular by its 32-bit wide memory interface compared to the 16-bit of the Nano. The Mini uses GC Nano Ultra as GPU, while the GC7000 Lite runs on the Nano. In addition, to reduce costs, the Nano does not have hardware support for video decoding and encoding

Both pin-compatible product families offer nine CPU variants (Dual Core, Quad Lite and Quad Core) with different expansion stages. The CPU-integrated Cortex-M4 processor supports numerous security functions.

The new ARM® Module TQMa8MxML from TQ offers an ideal core for applications from a wide range of areas thanks to its interface variety, scalable computing power with a small size of only 38 x 38 mm and low power consumption. These range from human-machine interfaces to camera and audio applications. In addition, there are many other possible applications in the industrial environment.

With these designs, TQ is not only expanding its i.MX8 product range, but is also expanding its LGA module series with an ARM Cortex-A53-based CPU architecture. TQ now supports all CPU families (i.MX8X, i.MX8, i.MX8M, i.MX8M Mini, i.MX8M Nano) from the i.MX8 series. Based on the i.MX8 CPU series, TQ is also planning operating system support for Android.

TQ is already working on a new design based on the newly announced i.MX8M Plus. In addition to TSN support, this derivative promises support for projects in which machine learning, machine vision, artificial intelligence and industrial IoT are relevant.

Prototypes will be available from mid-May.

New series of Surface Mount Li-ion Battery Protector IC for Overcurrent and Overcharging Protection

Posted on 7 May, 2020 by mixos

Littelfuse, Inc. introduced the ITV Series, a three-terminal surface-mount Li-ion battery protector for protection against damages caused by overcurrent and overcharging. The ITV series consists of five compact surface-mount packages and are available in the current rating of 12A, 15A, 30A, and 45A. These protectors can provide fast response and reliable performance to interrupt the charging or discharging circuit before the battery pack becomes overcharged or overheated.

The Surface mountable form factor of the ITV series improves assembly efficiency and it’s low internal resistance minimizes the power loss. The protectors are certified by UL and TUV to comply with industrial standards and they are environmentally friendly. The ITV series is best suitable for Li-ion battery packs used in power tools, Robotic appliances, E-bikes and e-scooters, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), emergency radio, and eCall.

Features:

Protection for both overcurrent and overvoltage
Low internal resistance
UL and TUV certification
Surface mount footprint
RoHS compliant and Halogen free

The ITV series has 5 different protectors namely ITV4030 12A series, ITV4030 15A series, ITV5432 30A series, ITV9550 30A series, and ITV9550 45A series, visit the respective product pages to know more.

Odroid-C4 runs Android or Linux on a quad Cortex-A55 Amlogic S905X3 @ 2GBz

Posted on 6 May, 20206 May, 2020 by Emmanuel Odunlade

Built around a CPU with a multi-core performance faster by 40% and a system DRAM 50% faster, the Odroid-C4 might just be the Odroid you are looking for

Four years ago, Hardkernel released what was introduced as the world’s first affordable ARM 64-bit computer, the Odroid-C2, one of the most popular rivals to the Raspberry 3. This year, Hardkernel goes steps ahead to launch Odroid-C4, a great rival to the Raspberry 4 and one of the very first community-backed SBC to integrate the new S905X3 SoC from Amlogic.

The new single-board computer, compared with the C2, performs faster and is more energy-efficient; the main CPU is built with a quad-core Cortex -A55 cluster that runs at 2.0GHz without thermal throttling, allowing a robust and quiet computer. The C4 is also said to have some advantages over the Raspberry Pi 4. Asides its fast speed, the Odroid-C4 has a wider memory bandwidth as well as a lower power consumption rate than the RPi 4. You will also get an open eMMC socket and 4 USB 3.0 host ports instead of the USB 3.0 and 2.0 mix that you get in the Pi 4.

Most likely, the Odroid-C4 might just be one of the major hacker boards introduced this year, considering the flow of SBCs that showed up in early 2020.

Features and specifications include:

CPU: Quad-cortex A55 Anlogix S905X3 running at up to 2GHz
System Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage: 8GB to 64GB eMMC, MicroSD slot
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet port with 2x LEDs and a WiFi UG dongle (optional)
Audio header with SPDIF, 12S and DC 5V
40-pin GPIO header
4x USB 3.0 ports, serial debug console and Micro-USB 2.0 OTG port
IR receiver and heat sink
Power: 5.5 – 17v DC input with LEDs and optional adapters
Dimension: 85 x 56 x 1.0 mm
Weight (with heat sink): 59 g
Operating System: Runs CoreELEC, Ubuntu 20.04, Android 9 and LineageOS very well

The Odroid-C4 is being sold for $50 on Hardkernel’s shopping page. More details including hardware and user guide can be found on its wiki page here.

Single-Ended, 2-Channel GaN Class D Amplifier – Evaluation Board

Posted on 6 May, 20206 May, 2020 by mixos

The EVAL_AUDAMP24 e-mode GaN HEMT-based evaluation board from Infineon Technologies is a 2-channel, 225W/ch (4Ω at ±43V) or 250 W/ch (8Ω at ±63V) half-bridge class D audio power amplifier for high-end Hi-Fi audio systems. This evaluation board demonstrates how to use the IGT40R070D1 E8220 CoolGaN™ gallium nitride transistor together with the MERUS™ IRS20957SPBF controller IC, implement protection circuits, and design an optimum PCB layout.

Potential applications include Hi-Fi amplifiers, AV receivers, Home theater systems, Powered speakers, Musical instrument amplifiers, and other premium audio designs.

The reference design provides all the required housekeeping power supplies for ease of use. The 2-channel design is scalable for power and the number of channels.

The EVAL_AUDAMP24 features a two-channels self-oscillating type pwm modulator for the lowest component count, highest performance and robust design. This topology represents an analog version of a second-order sigma-delta modulation, having a class D switching stage inside the loop.

The benefit of the sigma-delta modulation, in comparison to the carrier-signal based modulation, is that all the error in the audible frequency range is shifted to the inaudible upper-frequency range by nature of its operation. Also, sigma-delta modulation enables the designer to apply sufficient error correction.

Summary of Features

Output power:
- 225W x 2 channels (1% THD+N, 4Ω at ±43V)
- 250W x 2 channels (1% THD+N, 8Ω at ±63V)
Multiple protection features:
- Overcurrent protection (OCP), high- and low-side e-mode GaN transistors
- Overvoltage protection (OVP)
- Undervoltage protection (UVP), high- and low-side e-mode GaN transistors
- Overtemperature protection (OTP)
PWM modulator:
- Self-oscillating half-bridge topology with optional clock synchronization

Benefits

Clean switching performance
Narrow deadtime for better THD
Easy to use: compatible with the MERUS™ IRS20957SPBF class D controller
Outstanding audio quality
High reliability

more information: Infineon Technologies AG

BMR464 DC/DC PoL Regulator

Posted on 6 May, 2020 by mixos

Flex Power Modules’ 50 A digital point of load (PoL) regulator has horizontal and vertical mount options available

Flex Power Modules’ BMR464 regulator can be configured and monitored via PMBus® and measures 30.85 mm x 20.0 mm x 8.2 mm. It accepts input voltages from 4.5 V to 14 V and has an output voltage range of 0.6 V to 3.3 V with typical efficiency of 97.2% at 5 V_IN 3.3 V_OUT and 50% load. There is a synchronization function that allows several regulators to be locked to a common switching frequency to eliminate beat frequencies that can be reflected back to the input. The result is less EMI filtering and fewer external components.

Features

Configuration and monitoring via PMBus; voltage setting via PMBus or pin-strap
Dynamic loop compensation (DLC) and fast loop transient response
MTBF up to 14 Mhrs
Voltage tracking and voltage margining
Supporting tools: evaluation board ROA 1285068 for SiP modules and ROA 1283836 for horizontal mount
Supporting tools: Flex Power designer tool

Phase spreading reduces input capacitance requirements and, hence, losses because the peak current drawn from the input supply is spread over the whole switching cycle. A current sharing rail can be configured that enables 100% utilization of the output of each device and, during periods of light loading, it is possible to disable one or more phases to eliminate the current drain and switching losses associated with those phases.

Aurora Mb E-Paper is an intelligent monochrome e-paper display

Posted on 6 May, 20206 May, 2020 by mixos

Pervasive Displays’ intelligent monochrome e-paper with integrated timing controller, SPI, and 140 dpi glare-free display

Pervasive Displays’ e-paper technology offers a high level of readability under a wide range of lighting conditions. This Aurora Mb 1.54 inch monochrome display has an outline of 37.32 mm x 31.80 mm and is 1.10 mm thick, providing a square active area of 27.51 mm x 27.51 mm. It is suitable for dynamic labeling in medical, logistics, asset tracking, metering devices, and home automation applications. The display offers a high pixel density of 140 dots-per-inch (dpi) and can also be used with a broad range of scanning technology in conjunction with both 1D and 2D barcode technology.

The energy required to update an electronic paper display (EPD) is sufficiently low to enable it to refresh the screen solely using harvested energy, such as from a nearby RFID reader. The active matrix TFT EPD features an integrated timing controller (TCon) that updates the bistable matrix of pixels. The TCon is interfaced using a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol that can be implemented on any common microcontroller. Only a few passive components are required to complete the implementation in the final application. A flexible printed cable (FPC) 7.3 mm in length provides the connection between a microcontroller and the EPD.

Features

TFT active matrix EPD
Integrated TCon UC8451
Display color: black or white
152 x 152 resolution
140 dpi or 0.181 mm x 0.181 mm pixel pitch
Low weight: 3.0 g max.
Ultra-low power consumption
Super wide viewing angle
Anti-glare surface treatment
1.1 mm thick and extremely light
SPI
24-pin FPC with 0.5 mm pitch
Low external BOM count
37.32 mm x 31.80 mm x 1.10 mm outer dimensions (excluding FPC)
27.51 mm x 27.51 mm active area
2.3 V to 3.6 V supply
0°C to +50°C operational temperature range
30% RH to 90% RH operational ambient humidity

EPDs are noted for their legibility under sunlight, providing a glare-free natural reading experience like reading a newspaper or book, even at wide viewing angles. This makes them ideal as the display of energy meters, intelligent displays for meeting rooms as part of a smart building implementation, or time tables at bus stops. Any application that demands ultra-low power consumption with a display that is updated irregularly or only on demand can be considered an EPD. These types of devices can also operate over the 0°C to +50°C range in ambient humidity of 30% RH to 90% RH. The required operating voltage is 3.0 V typical (2.3 V minimum to 3.6 V maximum) with a typical current draw of 10 mA during the image update cycle.

more information: www.pervasivedisplays.com

New DC/DC Converters Offer 50 Percent Smaller Footprint

Posted on 6 May, 2020 by mixos

Murata unveiled the MYWGC series from the MonoBK™ DC/DC converter family. The new point-of-load (POL) modules offer a 50-percent smaller footprint than competing solutions and set new standards in size, efficiency and performance. The highly integrated, multi-output DC/DC converters leverage Murata’s core technology advantages in power module development, advanced 3D integrated packaging and passive component expertise.

The MonoBK™ MYWGC series are 4-channel DC/DC converters that integrate all passive components, including inductors, into a tiny form factor of 9.3 mm × 9.0 mm × 2.9 mm (L × W × H). The products feature an input voltage range of 2.8–5.5 V and programmable outputs of 0.4–3.58 V up to 3.0 amps. Most applications will require few external components.

Due to the unique packaging process, the module has an outstanding thermal performance that can support a wide temperature range of –40 to +105 °C. Based on a fixed-frequency synchronous buck converter switching topology, this high-efficiency POL module features on/off control and power-good signal out.

The first product in the series, the MYWGC3R53FFW92RAE, features protections for over-current (OCP), over-voltage (OVP), under-voltage (UVP) and over-temperature (OTP). Target power applications include FPGAs, CPUs and datacom/telecom systems. The product is sampling now, and mass production is scheduled for Q2 2020.

more information: www.murata.com

OKdo E1 Development Board

Posted on 5 May, 20205 May, 2020 by mixos

OKdo, part of the Electrocomponents Group, introduced its first own-branded single board computer (SBC), the E1.

The OKdo E1 is an ultra-low-cost Development Board based on the NXP LPC55S69JBD100 dual-core Arm Cortex® M33 microcontroller. The E1 board is perfect for Industrial IoT, building control and automation, consumer electronics, general embedded and secure applications.

Key Features

Processor with Arm TrustZone, Floating Point Unit (FPU) and Memory Protection Unit (MPU)
CASPER Crypto co-processor to enable hardware acceleration for certain asymmetric cryptographic algorithms
PowerQuad Hardware Accelerator for fixed and floating point DSP functions
SRAM Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) for key generation, storage and reconstruction
PRINCE module for real-time encryption and decryption of flash data
AES-256 and SHA2 engines
Up to Nine Flexcomm interfaces. Each Flexcomm interface can be selected by software to be a USART, SPI, I2C, and I2S interface
USB 2.0 High-Speed Host/Device controller with on-chip PHY
USB 2.0 Full-Speed Host/Device controller with on-chip PHY
Up to 64 GPIOs
Secure digital input/output (SD/MMC and SDIO) card interface

Specifications:

LPC55S69JBD100 640kbyte flash microcontroller
In-built CMSIS-DAP v1.0.7 debugger based on LPC11U35
Internal PLL support up to 100MHz operation, 16MHz can be mounted for full 150MHz operation.
SRAM 320kB
32kHz crystal for real-time clock
4 user switches
3-colour LED
User USB connector
2-off 16-way expansion connectors
UART over USB virtual COM port

more information: www.okdo.com